Afghanistan’s charge d’affaires to the United Nations, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, called on the Security Council on Monday to overhaul the proposed UN “mosaic” approach for Afghanistan, calling for true Afghan ownership, clearer benchmarks for the Taliban, and meaningful inclusion of democratic voices.
“The United Nations has rightly acknowledged that political progress and inclusive governance are indispensable for Afghanistan’s future,” Faiq said, welcoming “renewed efforts under the United Nations in support of a comprehensive approach based on the recommendation of [this] Council.” Yet he warned that the draft “lacks genuine Afghan ownership,” noting that “Afghan democratic forces, political actors, civil society, women’s organizations, and youth representatives have not been meaningfully consulted” and that “the process has been perceived by many as top-down and non-participatory, undermining its credibility and legitimacy.”
Faiq outlined a series of urgent reforms needed to ensure the mosaic approach advances national reconciliation and international reintegration:
A participatory platform: He demanded a “well-defined and structured platform” that reflects non-Taliban Afghan stakeholders and empowers them to shape both policy and implementation.
Women and civil society at the center: “Afghan women and civil society” must be “full partners,” not token participants.
Measurable benchmarks: He called for “clear, measurable, and time-bound benchmarks” for Taliban compliance, tied to conditional international engagement.
Prioritizing politics and governance: A strong political process must be the “central enabler of peace, stability, and international reintegration.”
Intra-Afghan dialogue: The UN should facilitate a broader dialogue including democratic actors, opposition groups, civil society (especially women-led initiatives), and youth delegates.
A UN special envoy: He proposed appointing a UN special envoy to coordinate inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue and unify global efforts under UN auspices.
Faiq criticized the current draft’s imbalance: “The Taliban’s demands, such as formal recognition, unfreezing of assets, and sanction relief, are clear and time-bound. In contrast, the international community and Afghan people’s expectations on human rights, inclusivity, and governance are vague, non‑conditional, and lack enforceable benchmarks.” He cautioned that without reform, the mosaic framework “risks normalization of Taliban rule without meaningful reform or accountability.”
His remarks come amid growing global concern over the lack of progress under Taliban rule — particularly the erosion of women’s rights, the halting of girls’ secondary education, and the continuing marginalization of civil society. The proposed mosaic approach, led by UN envoys and comprising working groups on issues such as counter-narcotics, private sector development, and humanitarian access, has been criticized for its limited representation of non‑Taliban Afghan voices.
Faiq concluded by stressing that inclusive governance is non-negotiable: “The people of Afghanistan, those who have long defended democracy, human rights, and pluralism, must be at the centre of this effort, not relegated to the margins.”
